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Marijuana use associated with significantly reduced risk of head and neck cancers

More clinical evidence that marijuana is an anti-cancer plant. Of course none of the mainstream media will care, I wonder why. I think it's time people open their eyes to the most useful plant on earth.

For some 35 years the United States federal government has been well aware that cannabis possesses potent anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties. And for the past three years, government-funded researchers have speculated that these qualities may offer “protective” effects against the onset of various types of cancer in humans, including lung cancer.

Yet to date, virtually no investigators have taken the time to assess marijuana’s potential anti-cancer effects in humans — until now.

In a clinical abstract just published online on the Cancer Prevention Research website, a team of U.S. investigators report that marijuana use, even long-term, is associated with a “significantly reduced risk” of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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A Population-Based Case-Control Study of Marijuana Use and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cannabinoids, constituents of marijuana smoke, have been recognized to have potential anti-tumor properties. However, the epidemiologic evidence addressing the relationship between marijuana use and the induction of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is inconsistent and conflicting. Cases (n = 434) were patients with incident HNSCC disease from nine medical facilities in the Greater Boston, MA area between December 1999 and December 2003. Controls (n = 547) were frequency matched to cases on age (+/-3 years), gender, and town of residence, randomly selected from Massachusetts town books.

...After adjusting for potential confounders (including smoking and alcohol drinking), 10 to 20 years of marijuana use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of HNSCC [odds ratio (OR)(10-<20 years versus never users), 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22-0.67]. Among marijuana users moderate weekly use was associated with reduced risk (OR(0.5-<1.5 times versus <0.5 time), 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.85). The magnitude of reduced risk was more pronounced for those who started use at an older age (OR(15-<20 years versus never users), 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.95; OR(>/=20 years versus never users), 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17-0.90; P(trend) < 0.001).

Our study suggests that moderate marijuana use is associated with reduced risk of HNSCC.

I’ve said this before but it bears repeating. What possible advancements in the treatment of cancer could have been achieved over the past 35 years had U.S. government officials, or for that matter members of the mainstream media, chosen to advance — rather than to suppress — clinical research into the anti-cancer effects of cannabis? It’s a shame we have to speculate; it’s even more tragic that tens of thousands of families must needlessly suffer while we do.

FrigginGlorious. : 2009-08-08 13:21:53
The most useful plant on earth? Really? What about the fucking tree?
..............
you are so stupid for saying this. if paper companys would use hemp instead of trees we could stop chopping down every fucking tree we see and grow fields of hemp and make way more product for way less money. oh but dear lord our government wouldnt want us to use hemp like the fucking declaration was written on just because it's related to marijuana.

Jennifer. : 2011-04-05 14:54:22

I believe they don't want everybody to know all the good things about it. Cancer is simply population control to them, not something that needs to be fixed or prevented.

julianhaternumber2. : 2011-03-20 18:36:41

To Julian: what gave you the impression cannabis was the cause of the testicular cancer? do you have any proof? cause if you do, I would love to see such a thing. But alas, any sensible person knows you do not. Doing some research would save you the embarassment of such a completely false and rediculous accusation. you're a fool if you truly think such a thing & to cure your horrendous stupidity, I reccomend smoking some weed. and would you call being happy, enjoying all the little things around you and laughing until your side hurts a waste of time? because most would agree that is a wonderful way to spend ones time. therefore, I highly suggest you stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

whoever. : 2011-02-24 00:31:30

I think its hilarious how people want to say how pot smoking has horrible side effects and causes people to be moody, or violent and so on and so forth, yet has anyone ever heard of somebody trying to kill another while under the influence of marijuana, how about vehicular homicide while under the influence of pot, and pot has many medical purposes, my cousin had cancer she smoked so that way she would have an appetite to eat so she wouldn't starve herself, it also kept her from getting nauseated after she had her chemo sessions. So the way I see it, its like the most legal things such as alcohol, and tobacco are the worst things to indulge in. yet something that grows naturally, and has no chemicals that can basically poison you like alcohol and tobacco products is the thing that is made illeagal, even though doctors are telling cancer patients and some people with eating disorders to smoke it to help with their symptoms. not to mention I cant count how many times people have been killed because of alcohol, and any one who has smoked weed knows that all you want to do is chill with your buddies play dumb games and eat or sleep

think4urself. : 2011-02-08 20:16:02

funny never really heard of too many cases of head or neck cancer originally...

bob is an idiot . : 2011-02-05 16:21:07

@bob: where are you "looking up" these facts at? i guarantee you've never smoked weed in your life, and are judging based on what you've heard in DARE and what others tell you.

duuude. : 2010-10-28 22:15:17

I used to be a huge stoner until I had a psychotic episode and had to quit, its too bad, I would love to enjoy health benefits like this
:(

uril. : 2010-10-26 23:40:09

Most of the people I know that are against "pot" is only because it's illegal. Why would I take Pills to feel better with all the side effects sometimes quite serious when I can smoke a "weed" that grows all on it own which I never had a bad side effect from. Besides the benefits marijuana has for so many people. Hemp is just amazing stuff. The wood fibers of our beautiful trees that are disappearing and take forever to grow back are 3/4 of and inch long the fibers from hemp are feet and feet long and hemp ( which can be grown without producing the buds) and can be used for so many thing and the hemp oil can run an engine and burns clean unlike the gasoline that helps to pollute our skies. Cigarettes kill so many People everyday and in over 10,000 year NO ONE has ever died from smoking Pot. Just imagine if you were one of the millions who suffer from chronic pain and the only relief was marijuana I bet you'd have a whole new opinion about it I say don't knock it until you've tried it. And check out Hemp Revolution it's an instant watch if you happen to have Netflix. also search and find out why marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug.

Julianhater. : 2010-09-09 11:23:24

Julian... have you ever stopped and listened to your own thought process?... like, really listened? Marijuana has no effect WHATSOEVER on the testicles. if your friend developed testicular cancer, it was in his genes, not in pot smoke. next time you think... try saying your thoughts out loud and see if they make sense. i guarantee you the answer 98% of the time will be "no."

Adam. : 2010-08-08 17:25:36

@bob:

Your an idiot. They never said marijuana prevents it, it just reduces the risk. And Bob Marley died of Melanoma, aka skin cancer. Why don't you just "look it up." Your ignorance is an example of how easily convinced you sheeple are.

bob. : 2010-08-05 15:44:26

oh yea then why did bob marley die of head/brain cancer?!
he smoked marijuana, i think marijuana should be illegal, it makes people moody and it looses short term memory loss.
There's many other horrible side effects.. just look it up :/

jim mickey. : 2010-07-12 03:03:26

Oh how we love the magical erb

likeuonlysmarter. : 2010-05-28 04:13:19

most drugs, legal and otherwise, simply replicate actions your body autonomisly performs on a regular basis. Saying it is illegal to do something your body is naturally doing on a daily basis is madness. It would be like making beans illegal because they give you gas, and nobody should have to smell your gas.

People drive cars wrecklessly because of alcohol and cell phones and weed because they are irresponsible. It has nothing to do with the substance they are abusing. If I smoke a blunt before I take my child to school, I would be irresponsible like if I lost my job because I was drunk. We have to stop equating drug use with being a moron.

Everyone takes drugs for the same reason. To make them feel better than they do without the drug. Better is a relative term and does not reflect the drugs longterm side-effects or cancer protection.

If we educated people about the bounds of addiction and responsible drug use, we could get much further than locking them all up in a jail cell and creating a dangerous, underground free-enterprise.

Jorge. : 2010-05-26 08:49:13

Julian ur a fukn dumbasss

guest : 2010-05-12 19:18:43

getttttt highhhhhhhhh

jaadiman. : 2010-05-11 00:08:18

what the fuck..it beats heroine n cocaine which my friends n bro died of overdosing and here i am still smoking a nice fat big doobie a coupla times a day...so fuck u all...goddaaamn im so fuckin wasteddddd...

vic, BC. : 2010-05-08 14:18:01

much good can come from using it
but everything in moderation...

elliott. : 2010-04-26 14:58:38

Yeah.. Julian I'm gonna go ahead and call bullshit on that one.

If you're friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer, I'm sorry, but if it was directly linked to cannabis use then that would have rewritten medical books. So yeah, good try, but just because he smokes the herb and got testicular cancer doesn't mean it was because of cannabis.

Julian. : 2010-04-19 14:00:15

Funny my friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer caused by marijuana smoking. So I guess it's like baseball cards, you can just trade one cancer for another...

If you smoke marijuana you are wasting your time and your life.

felipe. : 2010-04-03 00:04:25

you guys are missing an important point the plant is not illegal because it s bad, but rather because it is lucrative to drug lords and even after removing it the drug lords will probably still want business and move from selling a harmless plant to other more lucrative businesses, such as hijacking. This happened in the 1930s, the year alcohol prohibition ended, and it is happening to Mexico right now....read the news guys

Everything.... : 2010-03-28 10:31:34

...gives you cancer these days.

There's no use for life. We're all just searching for a reason to live. One of those reasons for me is weed so quit judging me, and those who like it too, for using it.

WE WILL NOT STAND IN YOUR WAY WHILE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE LIVING WORTH WHILE.

boom . : 2009-12-08 10:55:44

Well, its a generational thing.(it is obviously a war on culture) Science, facts, and public safety have nothing to do with this, and many other issues. When you realize this, you will get so much farther in life.

The main issue is that people have been brought up to believe marijuana is no good. This belief will have to be chipped away at slowly, and this talk about the medical use of marijuana will help. I can expect that over the next few decades we will see strides in the legalization of Marijuana.

It would be nice to know what cancer treatment achievements could have been obtained, but the fact of the matter is it would have been impossible for anyone to due such research for the past 35 years, and it still is very hard.

Dear Guest. : 2009-11-23 16:11:26

"PEOPLE: Get a Vaporizer or make some Marijuana Butter. Stop smoking things."

If I had the money, and time (in that order) maybe we would.

mgl. : 2009-08-19 08:25:53

Its the Big Pharma Industry that is the most responsible for the suppression of the weed. If it were legal, there are many conditions that they wouldn't be able to sell you their expensive drugs for.

Call me Ishmail. : 2009-08-16 14:25:38

UCLA did a study on pot smoke and lung cancer. They found that smoking pot does NOT lead to cancer. They think that it is because the THC makes a resin in the lungs, killing the cells (which do regenerate) making it impossible for cancer to grow. Here's a link [link]

Stoner. : 2009-08-15 11:31:19

sighs

Werlwind. : 2009-08-12 20:59:38

I'm sorry FrigginDlorious my comment should of also included frenchcheesey beside yours.

werlwind. : 2009-08-12 20:56:49

Friggin Glorious,

Please go to this link and read. Stop being so narrow minded. This is just the first one that popped up when I typed in hemp homes. [link]

guest : 2009-08-12 17:28:37

Many of you need to research marijuana and not base all of your opinions about how glorious it is off of one study.

frenchcheesey. : 2009-08-12 14:59:16

FrigginGlorious. : 2009-08-08 13:21:53
The most useful plant on earth? Really? What about the fucking tree? Pot is great and all, recreationally and medicinally; but you should try and build a cabin and take shelter in the stalks of weed plants.

You are a moron. You can build a cabin with hemp.

guest : 2009-08-12 02:05:30

While I agree it should be legalized and studied you are ignoring that the study also found that it also has tumorigenic qualities, meaning linked to CAUSING cancer when smoked.

PEOPLE: Get a Vaporizer or make some Marijuana Butter. Stop smoking things.

hemp and flax seed oil should be in everyone's diet for the health benefits alone.

jamesk : 2009-08-11 12:08:21

tyche, Bob Marley's cancer was related to a soccer injury that crushed his big toe that he never had treated because he didn't want it amputated for Rasta religious reasons. The toe developed acral lentiginous melanoma which then spread to other parts of his body. This is a different type of cancer than head/neck cancers, which are squamous cell carcinomas. There are many different types of cancer, I'm not sure pot can do much for melanoma, though Marley could have easily lived if he had the toe amputated. It was a stupid, preventable death.

trackactor. : 2009-08-11 07:34:27

So why is hemp banned? Why was the USA so intent to turn the whole world against hemp? Bunch of dumb-ass peeps!

glorious,
Dude hemp would probably be a HUGE moneymaker for the u.s. because of it's endless list of possible uses
it really is incredibly important

FrigginGlorious. : 2009-08-08 13:21:53

The most useful plant on earth? Really? What about the fucking tree? Pot is great and all, recreationally and medicinally; but you should try and build a cabin and take shelter in the stalks of weed plants.

P.S. If you do accomplish this, take pictures. It might be the coolest blog post ever.

BlazinSD. : 2009-08-08 12:42:04

Come to San Diego, us tokers are always at the beach, at concerts, hiking, surfing, and skating.

Potheads in SD get plenty of fun in the sun.

Smoking herb out here is so common, cops don't even care about it.

Eamon. : 2009-08-07 22:54:36

It seems to me that based on the comments to this article, if we in california legalize and tax Pawt....we cause oatmeal cookies of all types, including my favorite, oatmeal-raisin ones, to be put on the Endangered Species List. That would be a terrible shame!

Andy. : 2009-08-07 20:26:06

Please, don't make assumptions based on anecdotal 'knowledge'. Researchers do their best to control for every factor, and if they haven't controlled for UV exposure, I would be extremely surprised, given its obvious link to HNSCC. If not, I'm sure another study is well on its way with UV exposure in mind.

Also, to the skeptics, I ask you, does your skepticism come from what you've been informed? We have societal expectations around all drugs, and just because you hear it's the old mj and your mother warned you that it would make you a fat lazy loser doesn't necessarily mean it's true. Your mother probably got told by her mother that eating lard was good for her too.

Shran. : 2009-08-07 16:50:17

It's a pity people that should read this kind of research almost never do...

BB. : 2009-08-07 11:00:25

It works wonders for my joints and muscles. It loosens me up i have never been more flexible in my life.. I also had acl and meniscus knee surgery twice. At 16 and 19 years old. I didn't smoke at the time of the first surgery and took me 1 year to get full range of motion. i was also in pain all the time.I had the same surgery 3 years later and i smoked marijuana and got full range of motion in a month and had no pain. Anyone else experience same thing?

Evan Ravitz. : 2009-08-06 15:38:55

Did you know the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services got a patent for "cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants" in 2003? [link]

jakedinner. : 2009-08-06 07:34:57

I don't know about the UV exposure...it seems to me that whenever I toke and stay indoors, it's likely that I would've been indoors anyways. Nature is too beautiful to not appreciate while blitzed. Not to mention, it makes a frisbee the most amazing thing on the planet.

Mike in Canada. : 2009-08-05 14:36:16

I have a permit for medical marijuana...3 grams a day...i use it for pain. After taking conventional pain relievers [Toridol], i go into renal failure when i take just about any conventional pain/inflammation reliever...i stopped using drugs as part of 'recovery' some 25 years ago...been back at the cannabis for 9 years....it even helps with chronic anxiety...but that's not yet recognized

quiksilver98 : 2009-08-04 14:08:00

phlpmo, some people do get adverse reactions and for some people, it can TRIGGER scitzo, but this is for the most part with Sativa-like strains.

guest : 2009-08-04 14:04:09

skeptical, click on the link "click here for info on this study", it brings to the actual study

Isn't it interesting that in 1999 cannabis supposedly increased risk of head and neck cancer, but when legalization, or more importantly-taxation- is being discussed in parts of the country (California) as a serious option, government studies finally show a more truthful analysis of the effects of cannabis.

drewmeister. : 2009-08-03 23:50:10

"The only things endangered by weed are oatmeal cookies."

truedat. : 2009-08-03 23:36:08

But most most cannabis users do not sit around all day. That's the stereotype because when really high, some people chill indoors; we observe potheads when really high, and many like being indoors when high. That doesn't mean they stay inside all day. I seriously doubt they even spend more time indoors than the control group on average. The minority of potheads who spend lots of time indoors is probably as small as the minority of the control group who do the same if not smaller: us weed smokers enjoy nature (most of us).

CorrelationNOTCausation. : 2009-08-03 21:32:01

I admit I did not read the original article, but I'm assuming this is a correlational study and not experimental in design. While the abstract said rsearcehers adjusted for potential confounding factors, I'm left wondering about patients' history of UV exposure, which could be a HUUUUGE confound. For instance, (and this is just anecdotal knowledge here) cannabis users often lead more sedentary lifestyles than those who do not use the drug ("often" being the imperative word, not trying to stereotype). It's possible that those in the control group spent more of their life outside thus giving them increased exposure to UV rays compared to the toking subjects. Chronic UV exposure escalates one's risk for HNSCC, which could indeed be responsible for the study's results. However, if the findings from this study could be replicated using an experimental design... well that would be FREAAKIN SWEEEET.

jamesk : 2009-08-03 19:06:11

Here is the link to the original paper:

A Population-Based Case-Control Study of Marijuana Use and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. [link]

skeptical. : 2009-08-03 18:45:27

It is proper to cite the author and journal when you quote anything from a published research article. What is your source so that I may read the original article?

dreamdust. : 2009-08-03 18:20:06

More proof that this war is a war over culture. Not science, not facts, not public safety.

phlpmo. : 2009-08-03 15:58:48

no bad comes from this herb!!!only great things!!!

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